INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN FOR DISTANCE EDUCATIONBy: Raheen Brooks

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

Instructional designed as being the systematic development of instructional specifications using learning and instructional theory to ensure the quality of instruction. It is basically the entire process of analysis of learning needs and goals and also the development of a delivery system to meet those needs.

Instructional design is also used to help instructors make decisions about how technology is used.

PRINCIPLES OF INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN SYSTEM

A principle of instructional design is systematic processing which is “the outcome of many years of research as stated by Dick and Carey”.

Another principle is instruction which is designed within a system that causes learning to occur.

PLANNING PROCESS

When it comes to the planning process you have to take time out to learn about the learners in the class yields a more productive learning environment. The knowledge of the learner characteristics can inform the instructor about the nature of the students.

An instructor has to have knowledge about how many students are in the class and how it is essential to know about their educational background.

UNDERSTANDING LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS

As stated by Willis “to make learning effective it is necessary to understand the learners”.

Things you will have to know are the student’s age, cultural backgrounds, interest, and education levels. You also have to see if the class can be categorized into several broad subgroups.

The level of familiarity of the students with the instructional methods and technological delivery systems. Also there is the question of how students will apply the knowledge they gained in the course.

Time constraints refer to the actual online time for delivery, which is often limited and inflexible

Specific skills that need to be identified are concepts and knowledge. The scope of the content for a course needs to be sufficient to ensure that the entire learning experience will lead to its desired outcome, supporting information or knowledge is important to the scope of content analysis and follow up and applications should be considered.

THE ESSENTIAL CONTENT

MEDIA SELECTION

The common theme among these models is the learning context, which is the content, the intended outcome, and the nature of the students.

Practical considerations such as available resources for creating media and the technologies for delivery of instruction also play a hand in the selection process.

THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

All educators are familiar with the classroom setting, it is when the classroom shifts into a distance learning setting that the environment often becomes a challenge to the instructor. There are two important elements that must be considered:

Technology Resources

INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN MODEL

ADDIE Model

SUMMARY

The instructional design process provides the framework for planning. Making it essential for the instructor to take their time planning and organizing the learning experience when they are focusing on teaching at a distance. Instruction has to be a standard and acceptable. Students should also be able to engage and the instructor should be satisfied. Planning makes a key difference in a successful learning environment.